明 佚名 觀音羅漢圖 扇|Guanyin and the sixteen luohans

The painting is executed in ink, polychrome pigments and gold leaf on a silk support, forming a round fan that is mounted as an album leaf; this medium emphasises the delicate brushwork and luminous surface typical of Ming-era religious art. The composition depicts Guanyin flanked by sixteen luohans, a bridge and attendant figures, arranged in a balanced vertical layout that highlights the sacred narrative. The work's formal qualities include subtle color gradients, restrained line work and gilt accents that reinforce its devotional function. It is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection, documented as originating in China in 1572.

The work titled Guanyin and the Sixteen Luohans was produced in 1572 in China by an anonymous painter. It is a round fan mounted as an album leaf executed in ink, color, and gold on silk, depicting the Bodhisattva, a bridge, a man, and a woman. The piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its creation reflects typical devotional practices of the Ming period, though specific commission details are not recorded.

The fan-shaped painting dated 1572 depicts the bodhisattva Guanyin surrounded by sixteen luohans, reflecting Buddhist devotional practice in late Ming China. Its execution in ink, color, and gold on silk aligns with elite religious artworks of the period, produced in China. Scholars note that the piece exemplifies the synthesis of Chinese brush techniques with devotional subject matter, illustrating how anonymous artists contributed to the visual vocabulary of Ming Buddhist art. The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

This painting, titled Guanyin and the Sixteen Luohans, is executed on a round fan, subsequently mounted as an album leaf. Created using ink, color, and gold on silk, it depicts Buddhist figures integrated within a natural setting. The artwork is notable for its blend of traditional Chinese iconography with unexpected stylistic elements, suggesting a broader cultural exchange.